Refrigerator cabinet



Feb. ze, 1929. 1,703,318

G. Mur-FLY REFRIGERATOR CABINET Filed April 5, 1926 Paented Feb.26,1929. .l

UNITED i STATES 1,103,318 PATENT oFFic-E.

GLENN MUFFLY, F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0 COPELAND PRODUCTS,

' INCORPORATED, Ol' DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A COBPORATION-0F MICHIGAN.

BEFBIGERATOR CABINET.

Application filed April 3, 1926. Serial No. 99,626.

This invention relates to refrigerator cabinets which are cooled by theevaporation of a* liquid refrigerant, or like processes, andparticularly to cabinets which are combined with refrigerating machineswhich are built as a unit. The combination of a refrigerator cabinet anda refrigerating machine is not new, but in existing designs of thisnature the refrigerating machines are not as accessible for adjustmentsland repairs as they should be. The objects of this invention are tocombine a refrigerator and a refrigerating machine in such manner thatthe refrigerating machine (or operating part of the system), theexpansion chamber or coils, and the cooling surface may be built in oneunit so as to be easily removed. from the cabinet for adjustment andrepairs, or the removable unit may be quickly replaced by another unitso as to afford continuous operation of the refrigerator while therefrigerating unit which has been removed is being repaired. Anotherobject of this invention is to provide for removing the refrigeratingunit without employing any special hoist or tackle and without requiringany additional head-room over the refrigerator.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists in thearrangement, combinati'on and construction of the various parts of myimproved device, as described in the` specification, claimed in myclaims, and shown in the accompanying' drawing, in which:

The single figure is a vertical section of a refrigerator, certain partsbeing broken away, showing the refrigerating machine and cooling surfaceinstalled.

I have shown a cabinet having conventionally insulated walls 1 and aninsulated door or removable wall section 2.

The refrigerating machine illustrated is of a. conventional ty e,employing the compressor 3 driven by t e motor 4 to deliver compressedgas to the condenser 5. The refrigerant is delivered from the compressor3 to the condenser 5 and from there to an expansion coil within the tank6 through piping 11 and an expansion valve 12. After being gasiiied, therefrigerant passes again to the compressor through the pipe 20.

The design and operation of the system follows conventional practice,but the construction is such that the entire machine and the brine tank6 with their connections and fittings may be removed from therefrigerator as one unit along with the refrigerator door or removablewall section 2, which is made part of the reirigerating unit assembly.That is to say, the brine tank 6 is suspended by the bracket 9 from theinside ofthe closure 2, and ythe operating mechanism is mounted on thebase 8, which is secured by the angle bracket 21 to the outside of theclosure 2. The piping 11 and 2O extend through the closure 2.

The cabinet opening is tapered as at 22 and the edge of the closure 2 islikewise tapered as at 28. An insulator strip 24, of rubber, rubberizedfabric or other suitable material, is positioned on the end of thecabinet walls, surrounding the opening, and' the edge 25 of the closure2 is adapted to iit against the strip, being drawn tightly against thesame by screws 10, so as to complete an insulated joint. A hood 13 maybe placed over the operating mechanism, if desired.

When service or repair operations are necessary the service man firstremoves the hood 18, then removes the screws 10'which secure the door 2to the cabinet walls 1, after which the refrigerating unit, includingthe closure 2, and the brine tank 6 can be withdrawn horizontally fromthe refrigerator cabinet proper.

It will be seen that I have provided a refrigerator cabinet of a generalL shape, with operating mechanism mounted on the base of the L, coolingmeans in the side of the L and a'removable insulated door or closurebetween the two, bot-h being secured to the door or closure so as to beremovable therewith in a horizontal plane, thereby permitting thepositioning of the cabinet under a ledge or other like obstruction.

There are a large number of alternative constructions which would embodythe elements of this inventiomfor instance, where I have shown the brinetank and describe a coolin coil within said tank, I desire it to beunderstood that I might employ an expansion coil without the tank, or Imight employr an expansion chamber in some other form-than a coil.Another optional construction would be to use the flooded type of systemwith a oat valve control instead of the expansion valve controlmentioned herein. It is also understood that this invention appliesequally to the compressor type of relfrigerating machines and theabsorption type said mechanism, said element being remov-l able throughsaid opening without being disconnected from said mechanism.

2. A refrigerator cabinet provided with an upper surface comprising anupper and a lower horizontal fixed ortions separated by an opening, abase mem r mounted for hori- 'zontal movement on said lower portion, a

door for said opening secured to said base, a heat absorbing elementsecured to the inside of said door, a heat dissipating mechanismexterior to said door, and piping connecting said element and saidmechanism, said base, door, element and mechanism being horizontallymovable as a unit on sgid lower portion to bring said door into and outof cooperative relationship with said opening. r

3. A refrigerator cabinet having a fixed top comprising an upperhorizontal portion and a lower horizontal portion, a vertically disposedopening between said portions, a base horizontally movable on said lowerportion, a door for said opening carried by said base, a heat absorbingelement carried by the inner face of said foor, a heat dissipatingmechanism carried by said base, connections between -said element andsaid mechanism, and means for securing lsaid door against movement insaid opening, said base, door,

element and mechanism being movable as a unit to position said door intoor out of cooperative relationship with said opening, and said portionsbeing separated by a distance greater than the maximum height of any orall of said mechanism.

i GLENN MUFFLY.

